The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20

not on the books. He supplemented this oy |
charging Hewitt, the clerk, with incompetency. |
The clerk though, is not slow in giving his opin-
ion of how the prison was conducted for years. |
1t tallies with the facts heretofore given, and,
further, says that the directors cannot set up g
norance of the financial condition of the prison,
for he has warned them time and again for
years past The committee has written state
ment from Howard, in which he sets forth his
want of knowledge concerning the cause of the
shortage. Now that a fearless exposure
of his acts is paralyzing honesty, his
past record comes under review. During
the war he had a captaincy in an Indiana regi
ment He was tried by court-martial and ordered
to be shot for uttering disloyal sentiments. but
President Lincoln saved his life and dismissed
him from the service. Since then he has been
raving. ranting politician of impure methods
and INSCRIPTIONS practices. Selfshness pre-
dominated in everything he did, and when he
attained the prominence of political boss JEFF
fersonville politics became rotten to the core.
lie relied on money to keep him to the front and
In control, but when city treasurer OF this
place he received temporary backset in de-
falcatior of $40, 600 or $4,000. He has paid
great deal in liquidation of this charge, but
he is still indebted to the city $4,000. Money
with him went like water to curry
favor with those who could keep him in place.
Investigating committees have cost him hun
dreds of dollars per day in entertaining them,
and otherwise perhaps, for some Of the direct
ors have intimated to the committee that he
used money to secure re election. While they
were telling this the committee remembered the
facts against the directors that they have never
made an inspection, as required by law; that
their meetings were pcrfunctory, and resulted
in nothing but formal auditing of bills. At
this their duties ended But there is a heavier
charge resting over them. Captain Craig re-
| signed the deputy wardenship last September to
take charge Of the government depot Warden
Howard was glad to have him 60. as the ideas
of the two did not run together in regard to the
management of the prison. W. T. Royse, it is
said. was approached with the proposition to put
$500 in tie hands of a certain director and
therefor he could have the place vacated by
Captain Craig. The position is now held by
Captain Baxter.
The committee is anxious to find out positively
where the Howard shortage was applied. There
| is clew in his extravaganza entertainments to
visiting legislative committees and the require
ments Of influence. On the books in the convict
fund account occur frequently dollars, from one
to five, due the Jacksonville Times by prisoners.
BY this it is clear that they were forced to take
| that paper, of which Howard is the only proprie
| tor. The plant is not worth much but it has
helped the warden in his political methods and
drains on the money Of convicts, earned by them
in overtime work. Howard is hot against every
| onI A. yr:-
utmost in getting even with his maligners, as he
calls them. Hereafter, he gives out his pur-
pose, he will devote himself to birthstone De-
mocracy, regardless Of consequences. If his
ambition is carried out, exposure will cause dis
| aster all along the line of those who have been
in sympathy with his methods and preyed upon
his Office, and now turn their backs upon him.
| 1t will not be confined to Jacksonville, but
take in statesmen in the southern part
| of the State. and some whose direct
interests lie around Indianapolis. In writing Of
this object of the now warden, it is not out of
place to say that no Republican paper was ever
permitted to be read by convcts. Their knowl-
edge of events was forced on them through the
/, Courier-Journal, Jeffersonville Times and Indi-
| annapolis Sentinel. An especial edict was always
in existence against the Journal. But the JEFF
| fersonville Times could not exhaust the enor-
nous shortage. Howard always went into a
campaign with the Doodle bag filed At the
primary of township election he was as lavish
as at that of contest in which more important
Offices were concerned. When the primary to
choose a nominee for Representative last spring
| was on, Howard went in to defeat Frank B.
Burke, representing attorney. He did it, blu,
r. 4
be favored, Willis L. Barnes, is in
the Legislature, and will have
chance to test his manhood in the report Of the
House committee relative to his political advo
cate. The opposition of Howard was intense
against Senator Mcclure at the Madison conven
ton and also on the day of the election. Sen
ator McClures son was once hospital steward al
the prison. He could have been the physician
had he allowed the warden to use him. Howard
knew that Senator Mcclure would oppose his re
election, hence his attempts, in extravagan
use Of money, to keep him out of the Senate
When the news of Towards resignation reached
the Capitol, yesterday, Democratic Senator
said: Jack has been careless in the manage
ment of the prison, know. but think nothing
can be found to reflect on his integrity"
The committee has found that not cent ha.
been paid to the guards for their service sine,
the LIST of last November. There is not dollar
with which to pay these employees. as no money
is at the prison, or to be had in Jacksonville
, Clerk Hewitt handed over to the committee thi
morning 81, 200 as refunder to the convict San
ders, whom Howard browbeat into giving tina
, amount to him the day the Senate committee
was here. That was the cash the warden tool
, from the safe for the inspection of the commit
tee. 1t has been returned TO tn
credit of Sanders Captain ALE,
feels aegrieved at the statements il
tho Journa this morning concarnino him n